Re: Finishing place : Tue Dec 06, 2016 9:07 am  

I think Wakefield will be stronger this year than they were last season they now have the fastest back line in the whole of super league with a lot more strength in depth than they ever have before. Williams could be a huge player for them next season. Like Jools said they have a good mix of youth and experience now.

Although a lot of the players have questionable defence - Ben Jones-Bishop and Mason Caton-Brown to name a couple, John Kear prides himself on defence and if he can sort that out they could well do much better than last season.

Our issue is we are probably going to have the smallest squad this year in Superleague so it really is time for the kids to step up.

Kruise Leeming, Nathan Mason and Ollie Roberts are young but they will probably play most games if fit this season as they did last season.

Sam Wood, Tyler Dickinson, Liam Johnson and Darnell McIntosh will probably get 5-10 games each this season depending on injury - Im really looking forward to seeing McIntosh especially.

Matty English and Izaac Farrell will probably be promoted to the first team squad as two of our best prospects - but don't expect to see them this year or next year to be honest but the first team regular training will benefit them massively for the future.

Re: Finishing place : Tue Dec 06, 2016 1:29 pm  

Jo Jumbuck wrote:

Well as i have stated elsewhere optimism for me will be top 8, I will be satisfied with that for this season. I don't know any better than anyone else what the Bradford lads will do, But you have to be realistic, they were in the championship for a reason.

I don't dispute all the reasons stated for us having a poor season, but i think jools has a point as well, every other club could come up with their own list. We shall be better this season though.

they were in the championship because bulls got relegated from super league and through loyalty decided to try help get them back up

id have hoped if we got relegated last season that some of our players would have stayed too, like alot of hull kr players are doing.

Re: Finishing place : Tue Dec 06, 2016 1:31 pm  

TBC wrote:

I'm with you Code.

We had tough year last year starting with Robbo / Ferres and onto injuries.

Confidence dipped never to return.

Despite that we were still competitive in most games.

New conditioner, full pre-season for Derek, Tom Symonds, Ryan Brierley and the Bradford 3 are the positives. Always a fan of Dale Ferguson so I've no doubts there. Paul Clough always solid when I saw him at Saints. Lee Gaskell I can't really comment on as I've not seen him play that much.

If we can get Wakeman and Mamo over the line we should be good to go.

As always it's all about moving forward more than the oppo.

Time will tell but my glass is half full ATM.

not forgetting the loss of a young player too which will also have had an effect on the team and fans alike.

Re: Finishing place : Tue Dec 06, 2016 3:39 pm  

Indeed it did

Re: Finishing place : Tue Dec 06, 2016 7:30 pm  

Was surprised Dickinson didn't get more game time last year tbh. Think just the one run out...at Leeds away(?)

Re: Finishing place : Tue Dec 06, 2016 7:40 pm  

brearley84 wrote:

they were in the championship because bulls got relegated from super league and through loyalty decided to try help get them back up

id have hoped if we got relegated last season that some of our players would have stayed too, like alot of hull kr players are doing.

Fair enough, I don't know if anyone tried to tempt them away from Bradford or not, and i suspect you don't either.

If they help us to stay in the top 8 that will do , and will be a big improvement on last season.

Re: Finishing place : Tue Dec 06, 2016 8:27 pm  

Code13 wrote:

It's not wrong though
We do have the best wing centre pairing and the best stand off

And Leigh made a fool of them in quick time.

Re: Finishing place : Tue Dec 06, 2016 10:35 pm  

Cokey wrote:

And Leigh made a fool of them in quick time.

Jamie Ellis is all that needs to be said

Re: Finishing place : Wed Dec 07, 2016 7:41 am  

Run leroy , run ! wrote:

Was surprised Dickinson didn't get more game time last year tbh. Think just the one run out...at Leeds away(?)

Dickinson for me could go either way I remember when Josh Johnson was 16/17/18 he was immense and most clubs would have taken him from us - similar to Tyler when he was 16/17/18 always representing England and been England first choice prop at academy level. However, Johnson just did not improve to develop physically much over the last few years how I expected him to and props who he would of been much better than at that stage are better than him now - Nathan Mason being one but you can't fault his effort at all.

Although I was disappointed not to keep Josh as he is home grown and was still very young for a prop may have developed further over the next few seasons. If he doesn't find a club maybe we could still offer him a deal? although I want players who want to play for the club.

Tyler Dickinson is a very similar size and weight to Josh Johnson and plays with similar aggression and style although Tyler may be a big bigger since I last saw him play. Tyler is is 2 years younger than Josh so for me will either lack the size similar to JJ or may develop with game time over the next 2 years. Apparently went very well in the championship last year and was unlucky not to have got more games with us last season if so.

Matty English is going to be the one to watch over the next 5 years for me when ive seen him play he is very very talented prop forward - so will be interesting to see how he develops physically over the next few years when he gets into his early 20s.

Re: Finishing place : Wed Dec 07, 2016 1:45 pm  

Cokey wrote:

And Leigh made a fool of them in quick time.

No they didn't

Hth